We’ve recently returned from a trip to Colonial Williamsburg built around rest and relaxation due to our crazy busy lives.
Thus, we prioritized a spa day!
While my hubby hung out in the guys section most of the day…where they had a big screen tv along with multiple other options for “relaxation,” I relaxed among the tranquil gardens and in a quiet room with great books to read…no electronics on the ladies’ side of the spa!
I chose the Lavender Velour Body Scrub which was aromatherapy at its best.
From the spa website: Indulge your every sense in the velvety, weightless finish and glow-boosting power of our Lavender Velour Body Treatment. It begins with lavender infused pure cane sugar, blended with coconut and sweet almond oils to gently exfoliate away dullness. Then, enjoy a skin drenching application of Coconut Oil and Kalahari Melon Seed Oil to deliver rejuvenating nourishment, protection, and antioxidants leaving your skin quenched.
Everything about the spa was wonderful: atmosphere, options, service.
SPRING GARDENS
Second on my must-do relaxation list was to enjoy the gardens since we were in the depth of springtime.
Prior to our arrival I had devoured some historic garden books of the area, so I explored all the gardens to see what exactly exists these days, since there seem to be fewer gardens to enjoy than when I first moved to Virginia in 2009.
Soon I realized, of course, that the bulbs had petered out (we had a wicked hot Texas summer the week before we arrived).
Meanwhile foxgloves in some of the gardens were just beginning to open, which I knew would likely peak in a couple more weeks.
ANTIQUE CARS
Beginning my tour on one side of the Duke of Gloucester Street, I eventually made my way to the Custis Tenement House, when I noted lots of antique cars parked in front of Bruton Parish Church!
After taking some quick snaps of the fun cars, I popped over to the Cheese Shop for a quick lunch to take with me to the spa.
Arriving about 30 minutes before my spa time, I simply sat on a shaded bench to enjoy the tranquil water feature and lovely scenery.
MORE GARDENS
After a wonderfully aromatic and relaxing spa treatment, I resumed my garden tour on Francis Street, meandering over to Waller Street, then back to Duke of Gloucester Street before eventually meeting up with my hubby again.
Together we finished touring the gardens together on the final stretch of Duke of Gloucester Street and along the Palace Green.
Although I had wanted to take my husband on a fascinating walk through these bushes (which my kids and I used to do), it is now blocked off, just like the hidden niche behind the giant bushes next door at the St. George Tucker House. So sad.
CURATED TOUR PLAN
That evening at dinner my hubby peppered me with a million and one questions about the famous people and places in Colonial Williamsburg, so I suggested a personally curated tour just for him the next day.
When my kids first toured Colonial Williamsburg on our visits from Texas in 2004 and 2008, I gave them two different tours I had curated myself.
Since introducing my new husband to the historic, I’ve pretty much let him decide what he wanted to peruse, here and there, which quite grew his interest.
After being pommeled by my husband’s millions of questions, I suggested that I take him to the very sites of which we always discourse.
Since he takes quite a random path from here to there, I knew my poor feet couldn’t keep up, especially after all the wonderful walking I had done on our first day touring all the gardens…which I had kept as sequential as possible.
Mr. Random thusly allowed me to take him on a sequential tour to continue the theme of rest and relaxation while focusing on fascinating spots of history.
ROBERT CARTER III HOUSE
Thus, the next morning we visited the home of Robert Carter III, of whom my husband and I have had many deep discussions of his tutor’s journals, which I often mention.
Rarely opened for tours, the house is currently showcased in honor of the 100th anniversary of the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg.
While waiting for our tour, we were delighted to meet Robert Carter III, himself, who spend some time chatting with us.
The tour proved quite interesting, literally showing us how “walls can talk” by showing us various paint layers, evidences of past wall paper, even peeking inside the walls, themselves.
GEORGE WYTHE HOUSE
Next we walked down the Palace Green to the Wythe House, whom my husband had never heard of before apart from my constant chatter about him.
I told him I had never heard of him either until I first toured this house…the history books rarely mention him.
After their studies at the nearby College of William and Mary, many famous people have read law under George Wythe, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Wythe’s most famous student is the author of that infamous document, Thomas Jefferson.
Other famous students include John Marshall who became Supreme Court Justice, James Monroe who became President of the United States, and Henry Clay who became a Congressman from Kentucky.
St. George Tucker of Williamsburg (whose granddaughter married a Washington and founded a preservation society) and Bushrod Washington, nephew of George Washington, also read law under George Wythe.
After George and Martha Washington’s passing, Bushrod inherited Mount Vernon. He is now entombed in the Mount Vernon vault with his famous aunt and uncle.
While in town, we often stay at Powhattan Resort, where a gorgeous Georgian mansion takes center stage.
That is the former home of George Wythe’s wife.
The Wythe House interestingly showcases scientific accoutrements in one of the rooms, since many Virginia gentlemen were fascinated with science.
Most interesting is this hole in the shutter for use of a solar microscope.
This is one of the most fancy homes in the historic area.
At the end of the tour we listened to some lovely viol de gamba music from a member of the Governor’s Musick.
BRUTON PARISH CHURCH
After lunch at Merchant Square, we toured Bruton Parish Church since my husband had a million questions for them!
RALEIGH TAVERN
From there we walked down Duke of Gloucester Street to Raleigh Tavern, so my husband could experience the place where the burgesses “reassembled” after being dissolved by the governor…which we had seen in the movie at the Visitor Center the afternoon we first arrived.
Since this booth looked so familiar to my husband, we visited the site he had first seen it…Charlton Coffeehouse.
CHARLTON COFFEEHOUSE
There were no treats or entertainments on this day, so I was able to take lots of pics.
It’s so sad that so few of these sites are fully utilized anymore with the great interpreters who’d have us partake in political discourse just like in the 18th century.
Meanwhile we’d enjoy a hot drink after the tour at one of the tables in this room. Oh those were the days.
BASSETT HALL
From there we walked to Bassett Hall for a tour since I had been telling my husband of all the great work John D. Rockefeller financed to create Colonial Williamsburg.
Meanwhile, he and his wife spend the spring and autumn here at their little colonial home of Bassett Hall, their favorite of all their mansions and seasonal get aways.
It was here that they could just be themselves among the hospital citizens of Williamsburg.
We missed them by a day, it was Wednesday and they were closed. Again, so sad that so many of the sites are closed.
PEYTON RANDOLPH HOUSE
…and from there we meandered to the home of another Patriot I’ve talked much of, Peyton Randolph.
Another house in the historic area that is wall papered…
…and beautifully decored.
And then it was time to time travel back to the present…
For more photos of the historic area, check my Flickr set.
Antique car photos are here at my Flickr set.
